San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-10-20
GOULD AND GOVERNMENT.

SOOLD AMI Wv
Already the axe is laid to the root OF
the tree of moderate telegraph charges
and the tariff is raised over three hun
dred per cent from New York TO ChIca-
90, This is the first fruit of the sbsOrp-
ton OF the telegraph lines OF the Balti-
mere and Ohio company by the Western
Union extOrtiOn. The result of this in
creased telegraph tariff will not be only
evil. Good will come out Of it eventu-
ally. The first effect of the new order OF
things, OF rather a return 10 the old or
der, will be TO arouse the attention OF
congress to the necessity of providing a
check for this embargo laid upon the
channels of communication by the greed
OF corporations. The LIGHT has sira@ll
persisted In demanding OF this govern
ment the establishment Of national lines
OF telegraph, owned and operated b, The
national government for the benefit Of
the people. The idea has not
met with general favor and the
metropolitan press has given very little
encouragement to the proposition until
of late. The tables are changing row
and some of the most influential jour
mails in America are openly advocating
the measure ard insisting upon govern
ment relief from the exaCtiOns Of tele.
graphic monopoly, either by apprsisi g
and buying the existing lines or by en-
teripg the field as competitor and com
polling existing lines To give fair rate
or discontinue business. The New York
Herald Of late has grown insistent and
persistent in demanding Of the gov m
ment the establishment of telegraph
lines, and In a recent issue concerning
this matter, says:
"What the country needs and will
have Is q government system entirely
independent OF the Western Union.
working alongside of it at fair but
simple uniform rate, giving such good
service as will compel Western Union TO
give the same"
AS TO congressional action in this mat
ter, the Herald also says:
when congress assemblies, the teIe-
graph question is sure to come up. The
whole country has been disagreeahly
startled by the recent Baltimore and
Ohio calamity. Public opinion once
more turns to the question OF govern
ment line"
The Buffalo Express goes one step
farther in the discussion Of this question
and says, concerning the right OF gov
eminent:
"But the United States clearly has
the right. BY the revised statutes, to buy
any or all the telegraph lines In the
country, at an appraised value, to be
ascertained by five competent disinter-
ested persons, two Of whom shall be
selected by the postmaster general of
the United States, two by the company
interested, and one by the four so pre-
viously selected"
The views so plainly expressed in
these leading journals of the Great
Empire state are echoed in Chicago.
Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Cincinnati and
elsewhere. The act Of the Western
Union 10 absorbing the Baltimore and
Ohio by freezing out process immedi-
ately followed by an immense advance
Cd the telegraph rate between the lead
ing commercial centers, will arouse
public attention to this matter and
compel a consideration of it in the ma
tional legislature. The ideas Of Mr.. Pow
DERBY on this matter and OF the Knights
Of Labor, and Of the labor parties as
well. being duly embodied In the princi-
pies and platforms OF those orders, IS
given expression to politically, will have
some weight in forcing this matter
upon congress. There can be no ques-
tion that the transmission OF intelli-
gence by telegraph is as much the CON
Germ OF this government as lie the trans
mission OF news by mail. Government
controls the one, and government must
control the other. The old fogies may